Some days are hard and I wish that I knew the language better. Some days I wish that I could have a root beer float and when I can't find one, I wish that I was back in the States. Some days I wish that I could talk with ease and eloquence and then I'm frustrated when I can't.

And then some days, I get the opportunity to go to gorgeous places like this:

Going to places like this make me remember how beautiful and wonderful life truly is. I've been blessed to have the opportunity to go to Spain and learn and see and experience things that I would never get the chance to do otherwise.

I've always been one to find beauty in nature, and this excursion was no exception. We started a tour of A La Carmen de los Matires with a group of students and our wonderful tour guide, but soon I was irritated by disrespectful students that talked over our guide and so I wandered off to experience the gardens for myself. I stuck with my study abroad buddies at first, but this was my one true love- I needed to experience it on my own. I wandered around taking pictures and pondering the universe for an hour or so, loving every minute of it!

In Granada there are plenty of opportunities to go shopping, learn history, meet lots of new people, speak in Spanish, and live the night life, but I am quickly finding out that that lifestyle isn't for me. I need the mountains. I need the time to take in the beauty around me and think about all that God has blessed me with. Nature has always been my sanctuary, and it always will be.I've got roughly 3 weeks left of this study abroad trip and I'm so excited to keep learning, living, and experiencing the people and culture of this beautiful country- but I'm also looking forward to a little bit more "me" time before I leave. These gardens just became mine! Look out citizens of Granada, Xochitl's claiming a valuable piece of history as her own :DThanks for reading!